Darwin to Saumlaki, Indonesia, 1-4 November 2022
Blue Hound
Phil Marks & Rosy Jensen
Fri 4 Nov 2022 08:01
We had another passenger, a Noddy, this one was so tame he could have been dinner, also nearer land a playful sparrow. On our final approach there were numerous FADs (Fish aggravation devices), which look like small dwellings.
Our agent had emailed the co-ordinates of the 'parking place' & we dropped anchor in 20 metres of water at 11 am to await clearance (Quarantine, Immigration and Customs).
Although Saumlaki is mainly a Christian town one of the officials was 'called to midday prayer' so the checking in process was delayed until 2.30 p.m.
The little town is full of smiling faces, noisy scooters, rickety market stalls & little dark shops which probably offer most essentials. Plus a lovely tranquil hotel with a dinghy dock, cool beers etc.
We used an agent, Nelis, who saved us a lot of time and aggravation by coordinating all the officialdom. He also acted as a town guide - as an English teacher he made things much easier - especially buying beer.
The climate so far is a notch more comfortable than Darwin.
More reports to follow!
Photos:
Our passengers Noddy & sparrow
FAD
Some of the officials
Mosque & one of several churches
Back of some of the market
Commercial dive boat at sunset
